Hello, John! We are excited to share with you our new newsletter, spotlighting content from our popular Saint of the Day, Minute Meditations, and Pause+Pray. These are our gentle reminders to center yourself, meditate on God's goodness, and begin the day with a peaceful heart. Let us know what you think and please share these with your friends and family! |
Saint of the Day for January 25: Conversion of Saint Paul
Saint Paul’s entire life can be explained in terms of one experience—his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In an instant, he saw that all the zeal of his dynamic personality was being wasted, like the strength of a boxer swinging wildly. Perhaps he had never seen Jesus, who was only a few years older. But he had acquired a zealot’s hatred of all Jesus stood for, as he began to harass the Church: “…entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment” (Acts 8:3b). Now he himself was “entered,” possessed, all his energy harnessed to one goal—being a slave of Christ in the ministry of reconciliation, an instrument to help others experience the one Savior. One sentence determined his theology: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5b). Jesus was mysteriously identified with people—the loving group of people Saul had been running down like criminals. Jesus, he saw, was the mysterious fulfillment of all he had been blindly pursuing. From then on, his only work was to “present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me” (Colossians 1:28b-29). “For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and [with] much conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5a). Paul’s life became a tireless proclaiming and living out of the message of the cross: Christians die baptismally to sin and are buried with Christ; they are dead to all that is sinful and unredeemed in the world. They are made into a new creation, already sharing Christ’s victory and someday to rise from the dead like him. Through this risen Christ the Father pours out the Spirit on them, making them completely new. So Paul’s great message to the world was: You are saved entirely by God, not by anything you can do. Saving faith is the gift of total, free, personal and loving commitment to Christ, a commitment that then bears fruit in more “works” than the Law could ever contemplate. Reflection Paul is undoubtedly hard to understand. His style often reflects the rabbinical style of argument of his day, and often his thought skips on mountaintops while we plod below. But perhaps our problems are accentuated by the fact that so many beautiful jewels have become part of the everyday coin in our Christian language. |
Celebrate Lent with Saint Marianne Cope! This year, our companion for Lent is Saint Marianne Cope, whose journey led her to a life of service on the island of Molokai. This booklet contains reflections on the life of this Franciscan woman and prayers for each day of Lent. Available in packs of 10, it is perfect for gifting to friends, family, or your parish! |
God's Ways, Not Ours It is very easy to engage in “if only” thinking: If only I had been born into a wealthier family, if only I had the advantage of a better education, if only I knew more influential people who could advance my career, and so on. “If only” thinking suggests that I am a spectator of my life, not an active participant in it. Someone who constantly engages in “if only” thinking will never truly be at peace. She or he imagines that the key to happiness lies in someone else’s hands, someone who is withholding that key. Jesus’s words will often seem an obstacle because the “if only” thinkers tend to forget that Jesus suffered and died on a cross. If Jesus had followed their example, his time on the cross would have been filled with rumination over his bad luck. The Gospels, especially the Gospel of John, show Jesus as very deliberate in his choices. He rules—even from the cross. —from the book Peace and Good: Through the Year with Francis of Assisi
by Pat McCloskey, OFM |
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Mary, the Misunderstood Reflect Mary of Magdala was one of the most prominent disciples of Jesus of Nazareth, and yet over Christian history, she has had her name dragged through the mud. Publicly supporting his public ministry, she is also known as the “Apostle to the Apostles” because she was one of the first witnesses to the Resurrection. Pray Daughter of Magdala,
The life you lived was probably quite different
than what you had envisioned.
In many ways, you and I are not that different.
No matter the joys or sorrows of life, help me to return to myself
and to loving friendship with God.
Amen. Act Choose a Gospel account that features Mary of Magdala. Put yourself into the scene—what do you see, hear, taste, smell, and how does that make you feel? Today's Pause+Pray was written by Patricia Breen. Learn more here! |
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